A deflected effort from Ross Barkley pulled Everton back into the match just before half-time - but there was to be no equaliser for the visitors, who finished the game with 10 men as a result of Gareth Barry's late dismissal following two yellow cards.

Giroud, preffered to Theo Walcott in attack, saw an effort come back off the crossbar before Romelu Lukaku also sent a header onto the top of the woodwork.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech made a superb late block to deny Gerard Deulofeu as the Gunners, who defeated Bayern Munich in their midweek Champions League tie, moved a point ahead of Manchester City, who play at rivals United on Sunday.

Giroud - who scored off the bench against both Watford and Bayern - was the target for all of the Gunners' early assaults.

However, Ev erton, beaten 3-0 at Manchester United last weekend, remained resolute with plenty of attacking intentions themselves as the rain drizzled down on the slick Emirates Stadium pitch.

On 28 minutes, a cutback from Aaron Lennon through the six-yard box was only palmed away by Cech - but Everton defender John Stones could only hack the loose ball wide as it spun up off his shin.

After soaking up plenty of pressure in the rain, Arsenal swept into the lead on 36 minutes.

Ozil found himself in some space on the right and delivered a superb floating cross over the Everton defence for Giroud to steal in behind and send a backward header past Howard.

Before Everton could regroup, they were 2-0 down.

This time it was Santi Cazorla with the pinpoint ball in, whipping a free-kick on the left through the six-yard box - where Koscielny got in on the blind-side to nod in a second goal.

Everton were, however, quickly handed a way back into the match a minute before the break.

Barkley broke down left and drilled an angled shot goalwards from 25 yards, which took a wicked deflection off the trailing leg of Gabriel and flew past Cech.

The match remained very open in the second half as both defences were stretched on the break.

Giroud was inches away from a second goal on 68 minutes when Ozil delivered another slide-rule pass and the French forward lofted the ball over Howard, but was denied by the crossbar.

The visitors were soon close to an equaliser when Lukaku got up to head a cross from Barry onto the top of the crossbar.

As the clock ran down, Everton continued to press and Deulofeu found himself in space on the right side of a crowded penalty area - but Cech was out quickly to make a superb block.

In stoppage time, Ozil was unfortunate not to add a third for Arsenal when his low 18-yard effort struck the base of the post.

Barry was shown a second yellow card for a trip on substitute Kieran Gibbs as Everton finished with 10 men.

TWEET OF THE MATCH

"That is a big, big win. We looked tired in the 2nd half after Tuesday, but deserved the 3 points. Giroud and Ozil fantastic." - Prominent blogger @arseblog.

https://twitter.com/arseblog/status/657986157746245633

PLAYER RATINGS

Arsenal (Out of 10)

Petr Cech - 7

Gabriel - 6

Laurent Koscielny - 7

Mesit Ozil - 8

Olivier Giroud - 8

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 7

Alexis Sanchez - 6

Nacho Monreal - 6

Santi Cazorla - 7

Hector Bellerin - 6

Francis Coquelin - 6

Substitutes

Kieran Gibbs - 5

Mathieu Flamini - 6

Evertom

Tim Howard - 6

John Stones - 5

Phil Jagielka - 5

Romelu Lukaku - 4

Aaron Lennon - 5

James McCarthy - 4

Gareth Barry - 4

Gerard Deulofeu - 5

Ross Barkley - 6

Seamus Coleman - 6

Brendan Galloway - 6

Substitutes

Kevin Mirallas - 5

Steven Naismith - 4

Ramiro Funes Mori - 5

STAR PLAYER

Olivier Giroud: Had a brilliant game for the Gunners. He was involved in every attack and kept Everton's defence busy. John Stones and Phil Jagielka failed to keep up with him on a number of occasions and his goal came after he lost both members of the Everton team.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Arsenal's first goal: Came after a superb build-up. Momentum had been building for the home side and as Mesut Ozil sprinted down the right wing, Olivier Giroud was perfectly positioned in the middle of the box. The striker managed to lose both his Everton markers to skim the ball into the back of the net. Every Arsenal attack involved their link up play and the goal summed up the pair's work ethic throughout the whole game

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

Everton's back four struggled to keep up with the Arsenal attacks. Arsene Wenger had set up Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain to switch in midfield and it worked a treat, confusing the Everton midfield and leaving the defence open to attack. With Giroud in fine form, it meant the Gunners could get a number of shots on target early on. It was not long before these attacks paid off and they were soon two nil up.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

After 60 minutes Arsenal appeared to have shot after shot against Everton keeper, Tim Howard, but despite an impressive team build up they could not get the ball in the back of the net.

WHO'S UP NEXT?

Sheffield Wednesday v Arsenal (Capital One Cup, Tuesday October 27)

Everton v Norwich (Capital One Cup, Tuesday October 27)

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